By Congressman Kweisi Mfume The chronicles of human history have always contained chapters depicting martyrs whose legacies are crafted through their selfless sacrifice. For most of these figures, their physical lives were finite, from birth until death. The effects their lives have on the world after they depart continue their story in spirit. But for […]
Category: Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: Racial Justice & Cannabis Legalization in MD 2022
By Dayvon Love, Special to the AFRO The Maryland General Assembly (MGA) is looking to pass legislation in 2022 to legalize cannabis. Black people have been hit the hardest by the war on drugs, which includes the prohibition of cannabis. We have been subject to mass incarceration and the denigration of our communities. As a result, we […]
Posted inOPINION
OP-ED: TAX SALE IS A KILLER
By Nneka Nnamdi and Sean Yoes The tragic death of three Baltimore City Firefighters: firefighter/paramedic Kelsey Sadler, EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo and Lt. Paul Butrim (firefighter John McMaster was also critically injured, but survived), the morning of Jan. 25, while battling a blaze at a vacant house in the 200 block of S. Stricker Street, refocused […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: It’s time we invest in Black women entrepreneurship
By Larelle Clarke Innovation drives me as an individual. I love being able to solve complex issues and bring new solutions to old problems. When I saw the opportunity to start my own business, FareXchange, a business-to-business delivery platform, I left my job of over ten years to embark on a new, exciting journey. For […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Women’s History: Progress Isn’t Guaranteed
By Delegate Brooke Lierman The final major event of the 2020 General Assembly session was a 100th anniversary event of suffrage during Women’s History Month – and then the world stopped and session ended early for the first time in 150 years. In a way, women’s forward progress in the workforce stopped as well – […]
Posted inOpinion
TBE#11 – Women’s History Month Sees Historic Progress For Black Women In America, But Work Remains To Achieve Full Equality
By Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League “From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: The struggle continues: The unfinished work of police accountability in Maryland
By Delegate Gabriel Acevero “I have witnessed and endured the brutality of the police many more times than once but, of course, I cannot prove it. I cannot prove it because the Police Department investigates itself, quite as though it were answerable only to itself. But it cannot be allowed to be answerable only to […]
Posted inNational Sports
The Moore Report: Rube Foster and Pete Hill: The hidden father figures of Black baseball
By Ralph E. Moore, Jr. The Negro Baseball Leagues produced two of the greatest athletes and business leaders this country has ever known. Consider the stories of Andrew Bishop “Rube” Foster and John Preston “Pete” Hill. Few Little Leaguers or their grandparents know of these men- but they paved the way for Jackie Robinson’s break […]
Posted inOPINION
Life and remembrance: A legacy worth leaving
By Avery Ross We are hardwired to deal with grief, but everyone grieves differently. Acknowledging the complexities and simplicity of grief allow me to live a full life. Sometimes my grief manifests itself as gratitude for another day, sometimes it moves me to help others. As a grief counselor, I encourage others to acknowledge and […]
Posted inOPINION
Op-ed: State of the Union: Democracy needs defenders
By Ben Jealous President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address reminded Americans that democracy needs defenders—here at home as well as in Ukraine. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine was understandably a major focus of Biden’s speech. Putin’s eagerness to expand his power by unleashing brute force against his neighbors is a threat […]
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: If You Have Been Harmed by Police, Maryland’s New Accountability Boards Can’t Help You
By Roberto E. Alejandro A lot of political energy in Maryland has been spent in recent years to establish or strengthen civilian review boards for local police departments. It is important to know, however, if your civil rights have been violated by the police in a way that actually caused you harm, a civilian review […]
Posted inOPINION
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: First Black female nominee to SCOTUS set to inspire generations to come
By Congressman Kweisi Mfume The Supreme Court of the United States, the third pillar of our nation’s branchesof government, serves as a check on Democracy to ensure the Constitution, thelaw of the land, reigns free. With lifetime tenure on a court of just nine members,both the executive and legislative branches bear significant responsibility inselecting and […]